White House Withholding Fuel Assistance Funds

By Eric J.S. Townsend
Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT)
September 30, 2002

WASHINGTON --The federal government is refusing to release $200 million to help low-income families pay their energy bills - including an estimated $3 million for Connecticut. If Washington doesn't release the funds by the end of today, they go unspent.

The money is in excess of $1.7 billion already set aside for the fuel assistance program. It is meant to cover increased need caused by extreme weather or price spikes.

Because energy prices have not increased, and because there haven't been hot- or cold-weather emergencies this month, the $200 million will probably not be given out, said federal Health and Human Services Department spokesman Michael Musante.

But two congressional coalitions are lobbying the White House to distribute the money before time runs out.

"This is not a partisan issue," said Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-3rd District. "We come from all parts of the country, where it's either cold or hot. We have to be engaged with this effort in a deliberate way."

Citing higher unemployment over the past year, 74 representatives and 39 senators - far from a congressional majority – signed letters to President Bush last week supporting the release of the additional Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds.

But budget woes make it still more unlikely that the administration will oblige.

"The administration has clearly stated they're worried about the growing deficit and is tightening the release of funds wherever they can find it, and this is one place," said Mark Wolfe, executive director of the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association.

The congressional letters coincide with a poll released Tuesday by the Campaign for Home Energy Assistance, which found that almost 75 percent of Americans favor increased funding for the program.

DeLauro was one of five lawmakers present at a news conference announcing the poll's findings. She said its results would be crucial in developing continued support for the program.
"We know this program works," DeLauro said. "We have documentation from around the country, yet the struggle goes on."

Rep. Rob Simmons, R-2nd District, Rep. James H. Maloney, D-5th District, and Rep. Nancy Johnson, R-6th District, also signed the letter to Bush. Democratic Sens. Christopher Dodd and Joseph Lieberman signed an identical version in the Senate.

Rep. John B. Larson, D-1st District, and Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4th District, did not sign the letter. Larson spokesman Michael Kirk said the congressman would not oppose the release of the funds.